A really great space filled with all sorts of cute gifts, household merchandise, and more! I've…read morealways heard about the shop from friends and coworkers and finally stopped by. I was able to park right outside the entrance, with metered street parking. They have been hosting small businesses to do popups and the day I went was to visit a friend who runs a micro-bakery called Smorris Desserts. It was easy to support a small business who also pours back into other local small businesses and the community. There are so many cute things and also other small artists and creators hosted in the store as well such as Atelier Celeste which is one of my favorite local ceramics artists. I bought a super cute necklace from their jewelry/build your own charm bar near the registers. They had a mix of gold AND SILVER which was really nice since so many places I go to often only sell gold. I also got a cute bag charm for my purse. The prices were honestly really reasonable especially for a small local business. I think if you're able, I would try to get gifts here for friends, parties, etc. The staff is also super great. Lindsay is one of the people who I often see there and they are the coolest, kindest, and most knowledgeable people about the are. They are able to give really great recommendations for things in store and also gave me a local business recommendation for something they didn't carry. Tip: spread out your gift purchases, especially for christmastime, throughout the year! It's easier on your budget to do small things at once and it feels so nice at the end of the year to realize you already did all the hard work!

I came here as a tourist from out of town, found a mass produced book and pulled out my phone to…read morewrite the book name down. The reality was, I couldn't travel with the book because it was too large and heavy to add into my luggage. The person who I ASSUME is the owner came over and immediately raised his voice and started calling me names. Saying I'm being shitty and I shouldn't "do that to a small business." I tried to explain why I was doing what I was doing and he made sure to tell me he didn't care. Not that this person will change how they operate but all he had to do was be like "hey do you mind?" And I would have pulled my head out of my ass and been understanding. However! Raising your voice and approaching anyone in that manner is deeply shitty and clearly an attempt at humiliating me. I'm not here to argue that I was in the right, I was just too busy thinking about myself and how I was bummed I couldn't travel with the book. Anyway can't wait to receive that book from literally anywhere else but this shop

Love this concept!…read more Come support the Pack Elephant, a shop filled with local artists that make a variety of items from clothes, edibles, cards, jewelry, etc. Everything is laid out beautifully amongst small display areas that I assume local artists rent out. I fell in love with these pictured earrings, but I'm currently on a budget and resisted the urge to purchase. Way to go will power! Check this place out to gift something special to someone you love, or maybe treat yo'self! I love that the staff slides in the artist business card during check out. It makes you feel connected with whom you bought from. Overall great vibes here.

Pack Elephant is a new store located in the Studio Park plaza downtown. It features gifts and…read moreproducts from local artisans and makers, many are women and minority owned. The space is large, bright, airy, and open, with lots of space for distancing and plenty of local artwork on the walls. My boyfriend and I stopped in on Valentine's Day and were pleasantly surprised with the wide range of items we found! Coffee, greeting cards, apparel, snacks, bath and body products, tea, pet items, beauty products and makeup, eco-friendly products, plants... I could keep going! Each maker has a little bio and information about the products which is so cool. This is one of the many reasons why I love supporting local shops like this. Getting to know the backstory behind someone's business makes me more likely to purchase something! Pack Elephant is definitely going to be high on my list for go-to shops for when I need a gift. I love the mission of the place - supporting hyper local, small makers and especially women and minority owned businesses. I ended up getting some tea, cheese popcorn, and coffee! The employee who rang up our purchases was very polite and sweet. They've just recently opened so definitely check them out if you're in need of a gift for yourself or a loved one.

I absolutely adore this store and it's right downtown, so very very walkable! I'm seriously just a…read moresucker for all things cute, and Oh Hello really does the best with providing local artist and curated items that every time I go, I cannot help but buy something! Even if it's just a little sticker, a pin or something more. It's the perfect shop for a small gift for a loved one and if you are interested, you should join the locker club! It's a monthly club and I finally got a sneak peek inside.. absolutely ADORABLE!! What a great way to support a local business and artists.

Oh Hello is one of my favorite places to go to! It's right downtown in the middle of so many nice…read morethings. If you have any time to kill before a concert, it's a third Thursday, or you're just wanting to browse, this is definitely the place for you. The store specializes in cute fun gifts and trinkets. They have everything from cookbooks to baby toys to stickers. There are gifts for almost every age and demographic. There are often goods from local artists and creatives which is really nice. One of my favorite features is the monthly art locker. For a one-time cost, you get a physical key with access to a locker with monthly goodies! The staff may be some of the kindest I've met. You can always talk about your day or learn about what's been going on downtown. There is a shop cat named Yuki who is soooooo cute and is my personal "where's waldo" whenever I'm in the store. Their marketing and promotions are really fun and the videos often make me laugh. They offer some free and paid events, making it a nice place to meet new people and engage in creativity. One of these days I need to make their cloud workshop!

incredible people. Kind and helpful, yet unobtrusive. Went beyond expectation to help me put a…read moresmall last minute gift together. I am so grateful to have people like this around!

What an interesting, intimate place to be to get all your must have for teas candles, Incense and…read moreastrological trinkets. We parked on the street by a meter for $1.50 an hour. Meter was very easy to use and operate. It's located next to a few restaurants In a strip type of building setup. The store itself is not very big but it's packed from top to bottom with lots of lovely stones, jewelry, cards and artists items to take home. The space is used very well and items are displayed for you to look over, maybe Smell or even touch. There was not someone present to do a reading when we arrived but they do have a website where you can reserve a time or they do have a up-and-coming Black Friday deal for the holiday that provides reading a discount. They were very friendly and accept credit cards. I'm definitely planning on coming back for a reading.

The Color Forest is literally one of my new favorite places in all of Grand Rapids!! It's a small…read morebusiness run and owned by a Grand Rapids female!! It's a polymer clay earring business... and the earrings are so colorful and so fun!! There is a storefront located on Division... that is so bright and happy!! Things you can do at the store... shop the earrings, participate in earring making classes, or shop all of the other goodies in the store!! I participated in an earring making class, and it was one of the most fun DIY classes I've ever done!! You get to make your own earrings from start to finish... and it's so neat to be able to do this entire process!! I'm for sure going to do another class!! If you're not interested in a class or shopping the storefront... you can order some earrings online!! If you're from Grand Rapids or are traveling to Grand Rapids... PLEASE make some time for The Color Forest!!

Commune is one of the cutest shops in Grand Rapids! The shop is filled with an assortment of home…read moregoods, trinkets, gifts, and more. The vibes of the shop are playful, chic, and cozy. One thing that sets this store apart is the owner. She is genuinely so kind and goes above and beyond to help with the little things without you having to ask. She seems to be supportive of other local businesses and actively works with other community members. I was lucky enough to buy a small collection of presents for friends and she diligently handwrapped each one without me even having to ask. The items in the store will be slightly higher price but I've found the quality is often reflected in the price. It's centered in a really great location that makes for a fun day out and about. NOTE: There are stairs that lead into the main entrance, there may be an alternate route for those who may need it!

One of my favorite places to shop during the holidays. Their window display is always so modern and…read morefestive. Then have the best gifts for the hostess in your life. I've picked up cookbooks, martini glasses, wine openers. They are some of my favorite gifts to give. Pro tip: go check out their jewelry and perfume all the way toward the back. So underrated, and you can find some great deals!

The Mitten State (TMS) is a local company that makes fun Michigan-themed apparel, accessories, and…read moregifts. You may have seen bumper stickers or keychains around town with the outline of the state of Michigan that looks like a mitten - that's from TMS. I don't even remember how I first learned about them, but over the past several years living in Grand Rapids I've bought many shirts from the store. Their new storefront on Bridge Street by Knickerbocker is great and they sometimes have in-store only deals (follow their social media for the scoop). They have an equal amount of MSU / UofM apparel so you can get ready for the big rivalry game! They also have fun shirts with Michigan themes, like "I never pass on a bower," a few that relate to beautiful state parks in Michigan, and one that reads, "Hands off my pasty, eh?" which probably doesn't make any sense to someone not from the area. The shirts are incredibly soft and range from $30 for a t-shirt to $55 for some of the hooded sweatshirts. Not exactly cheap, but I love to support local stores like The Mitten State. Definitely check it out if you need a Michigan-themed gift.

Painfully slow shipping and delivery. Other than that, I really like their products and have…read moreordered from them a number of times.

BEST STORE EVER! Small business locally owned with great style and home aesthetic! Highly recommend…read moreif you're looking to make your home special.

Full of VERY cute merchandise at very reasonable but expectedly marked up prices for items you…read morecould occasionally find thrifting. Again, still reasonable and very fair. They do also include boutique style clothing that typically runs a bit higher as well. The reason for one less star... the woman working, who seemed to be the owner was not the slightest bit friendly. I even commented her selection of goods and was immediately caught off guard by her disinterest in hearing anything from me. Maybe I'll come back because they had some cute stuff.. but I won't expect to be greeted by a friendly shop owner who enjoys the line of work they chose.

This is such a cool shop. They feature a lot of handmade leather goods, including customizable…read moreitems like keychains, belts, etc. but they also have lots of other interesting items - I particularly liked the cyanotype clothing and other textiles. I stopped in recently with some friends and we loved seeing all the fun stuff in the shop. I was drawn to the stickers, cat shaped keychains, earrings, and pins. The shop also houses an active workspace in the back, so the employee there was busy and not very interactive when we came in - which was fine, as we were just browsing, but it didn't create a super welcoming atmosphere for us. Just my experience. I will definitely be back the next time I need a fun gift!

I don't find myself on Cherry St that often, but when I do a stop at Gemini is a must! It's such a…read morenatural, earthy vibe. I am always inspired when I shop here and often find myself wishing I earned more money to buy all the treasures made here. Gemini makes their own hand crafted leather belts as well as offering monograms on all sorts of leather curiosities. My favorite was an ingenious cyanotype "tie dyed" leather contraption that transformed a glass jar into a coffee mug. So inventive. I also love that they sell DIY cyanotype kits amongst all their marvelous creations. Long ago, I bought an airplant from this establishment and it's still going strong. I thoroughly enjoy perusing the art, clothes, bags, jewelry and other thoughtfully designed items. It brings me peace walking in and smelling that leather along with their delicious scented candles. I take heart knowing everything is ethically sourced and locally owned. I hope you find as much joy shopping here as I do. Enjoy.

Cute new boutique to add to the east town shops. Friendly staff and a lot of neat stuff to look at…read more Big baby/kid section as well as bath, jewelry and plant/decor sections. Great place to get Baby Shower, Mother's Day, etc gifts.

Super cute shop! A little bit of everything. Dinner and drinkware, rustic soaps, candles, holiday…read moredecore, leather and metal jewelry, clothes for kids and women. Maybe they had mens too, but l can't remember. Staff said they bought the shop next door to make it more of a women's boutique. I forgot to take a pic of the womens clothing, but they had cute sweaters and hats. Excited to explore that once it opens! Lots to look at, unique items, not too pricey, pretty much what l would expect from an independent shop owner. Hey, they got bills to pay too, right? All their items looked like they were made from quality material. Highly recommend for unique gifts!